asked the Minister for Health if he will set up a commission to inquire into the desirability and practicability of providing in rural areas parish houses, one for every three parishes, to accommodate the aged and infirm in their own neighbourhood instead of requiring them to go long distances from their own home to antiquated central county homes when they are no longer able to look after themselves.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Provision of Parish House.
I do not consider that a commission of inquiry is necessary. The provision of improved accommodation for old and infirm people who come under the care of local authorities has been examined fully in recent years, and a scheme for improved care for these classes is set out in a White Paper published in October, 1951. It is indicated in the White Paper that sympathetic consideration will be given to proposals for a limited number of subsidiary institutions in the larger counties where residencein the county home might involve for some old people a removal to too great a distance from their friends. It is also indicated that voluntary agencies and local authorities might make a small but valuable contribution to the solution of the problem by providing, in suitable circumstances, accommodation in colonies of small dwellings, or in flats in adapted country houses, with, in either case, a communal kitchen and dining room.
Under the arrangements outlined in the White Paper the cost of providing, where necessary, alternative accommodation for persons hitherto accommodated in county homes, as well as the cost of modernising and improving county homes, is to be defrayed from loans raised by public assistance authorities. The loan charges on the moneys borrowed will be substantially subsidised from the Exchequer.
I have suggested to local authorities through the county managers that they should give special consideration to this question and I have informed them that I will welcome any reasonable proposals for the provision of small colonies which the local authorities may submit to me.
Would the Minister favourably consider taking specific action, where proposals are submitted to him for the outlay of very large sums of money to repair existing county home buildings, by suggesting to the local authority that, before determining upon a heavy outlay on such buildings to accommodate the existing demands upon them, they would consider the alternative of parochial units wherein the people could be accommodated close to the homes?
I am very much in favour of separate colonies for old people. I will convey my opinion to the local authorities through the county manager but if any proposals come in for the repair of a county home I would not like to have that deferred. I think the county homes will always be necessary as hospitals for chronic and aged people.
Might I ask the Minister another question? I understand from the Department of Lands that they are perennially confronted with the problem of having large and relatively valuable houses on their hands when they acquire demesnes and that they are anxious and willing to dispose of these large residences to people who would use them for some quasi-public purpose at a very small nominal charge rather than have them demolished. Would the Minister examine with the Department of Lands how many such premises might be available and direct the attention of the local authority to such availabilities with this object in mind?
Only very recently I asked the local authorities to consider the matter of either taking a large house such as the Deputy suggests or building a special colony for the old.
Would the Minister consider asking the Minister for Lands to prepare a schedule of such houses as he has on hand?
I think the local authorities would know these houses themselves. However, I will discuss the matter with them.